Punch for removing a desired segment from a paper record

ABSTRACT

A punch for removing a desired segment of a paper record is described. The punch has an anvil on which the paper record is placed. The paper record is placed underneath an apertured template to register the desired segment with a cutter element located in a movably mounted cutter housing assembly disposed over the anvil. The cutter element is movably mounted to the assembly and is normally spring biased into a retracted position. The assembly further includes a frame which is provided with a clamping surface disposed over the template so that when the assembly is brought down onto the anvil the clamping surface presses against the template to clamp the paper record before the cutter severs the desired segment. A resilient clamping pad is mounted on the cutter to provide inside clamping of the paper record during a cutter operation for a sharp severing of the desired segment.

United States Patent 1 1 Bender 51 Oct. 2, 1973 1 1 PUNCH FOR REMOVING A DESIRED SEGMENT FROM A PAPER RECORD [22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 210,388

[52] US. Cl 83/383, 83/139, 83/140, 83/588, 83/694 [51] Int. Cl B26d 7/02 [58] Field of Search 83/140, 128, 139, 83/383, 588, 686, 691, 690, 694, 684, 599, 621, 622

[56] .References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,347,249 4/1944 Brewton et al. 83/588 X 3,256,764 6/1966 Hardy 83/690 3,600,772 8/1971 Farris 83/599 X 3,441,462 4/1969 Bogen et al.... 83/621 X 1,687,758 10/1928 Glaeser 83/588 x \2 so 56 4 QIEI I" 5 2 JIT 'Q Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz I Assistant Examiner-W. D. Bray Att0rneyLouis Altman [57] ABSTRACT A punch for removing a desired segment of a paper record is described. The punch has an anvil on which the paper record is placed. The paper record is placed underneath an apertured template to register the desired segment with a cutter element located in a movably mounted cutter housing assembly disposed over the anvil. The cutter element is movably mounted to the assembly and is normally spring biased into a retracted position. The assembly further includes a frame which is provided with a clamping surface disposed over the template so that when the assembly is brought down onto the anvil the clamping surface presses against the template to clamp the paper record before the cutter severs the desired segment. A resilient clamping pad is mounted on the cutter to provide inside clamping of the paper record during a cutter operation for a sharp severing of the desired segment.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.762.258

SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR. LOUIS BENDER PATENTED rm 2am 3.762.258 SHEET 20F 2 FIG.3

[.YVEXYOK fmm PUNCH FOR REMOVING A DESIRED SEGMENT FROM A PAPER RECORD BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a paper punch for removing a desired segment from a paper record.

Paper hole forming punches are commonly available and are extensively described in the prior art. For example in the US. Pat. No. 3,256,764 to Hardy a paper punch is described which provides for the cutting of a sheet material of desired shapes. In the US. Pat. No. 3,079,824 to Schott a paper-punch is described wherein a stripper for forming a hole in paper is spring biased to return the stripper after the hole has been punched.

In a paper punch in accordance with the invention, a paper record such as which bears cardiac data may be conveniently subjected to a punching operation whereby a particular segment of interest can be severed for detailed inspection or preservation as desired.

The paper punch of this invention includes an anvil. The paper record is placed on the anvil and underneath a template which has an opening to outline the segment to be severed. The anvil possesses a recess in registration with the periphery of the template opening and is shaped and sized to receive a cutter element. The cutter element is located in a cutter housing assembly which is mounted to the anvil in a manner whereby the assembly may be moved towards and away from the anvil. When the cutter housing is pressed against the anvil,clamping surfaces located on the assembly are effectively brought to bear against the paper record before the cutting element is applied to sever the desired segment. Thus the clamping surfaces firmly grip the paper record to prevent its crumpling from the cutting action and aid in providing a clean sharp cutting of the paper record. A resilient element is effectively interposed between the cutter element and the clamping surfaces so that the cutter element is only applied after the spring action from the resilient element has been overcome and the paper record has been firmly clamped against the anvil.

As described with reference to a specific embodiment, the clamping surfaces are formed by an outer clamping surface on a frame which retains the components of the cutter housing assembly and an inner resilient cushion mounted on a movable cutter element. The resilient cushion protrudes below the cutter element to assure clamping of the paper record when the cutter housing assembly is pressed against the assembly. A coiled spring is seated between the frame and a cap attached to the cutter element to normally locate the cutter element in a retracted position. When pressure is applied to the cap the frame and resilient cushion are advanced towards the anvil to firmly grip the paper record. With the record firmly seated against the anvil, continued cap pressure causes the cutter to advance towards the paper record to sever the desired segment located in the template opening.

The punch of this invention may be conveniently manufactured from molded plastic materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a paper punch in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a frontal section view of the paper punch shown in a position before a paper record is inserted. FIG. 3 is a side section view of the paper punch with the paper punch in a paper-clamped and cutting position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 3, but showing the cutter housing assembly pivoted to its extreme inoperative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT The exploded view of a paper punch 10 in FIG. 1 illustrated an anvil 12 having an upper anvil surface 14 on which a paper record such as a cardiogram or the like is to be located. The anvil surface 14 is provided with an annular cutter recess 16 sized to receive an annular cutter 18 located in a cutter housing assembly 20. The cutter l8 and recess 16 need not be annular in outline, and may be provided with some other suitable shape as desired. The cutter recess 16 in the anvil surface 14 and the cutter 18 are aligned so that they can engage on another in paper shearing relationship when the cutter housing assembly 20 is advanced towards the anvil 12.

A clamping template 22 is provided for mounting on the anvil surface 14 with a pair of transverse parallel supporting bars 24-24' which fit within a pair of transverse parallel recesses 26-26' in the anvil surface 14. The clamping template 22 is provided with a seating shim 28 adjacent the bars 24-24 to locate the main clamping segment 30 in cantilever fashion with a small space 31 (see FIG. 2) over the anvil surface 14. A circular aperture 32 is located concentrically with the cutter recess 16 so that a paper record which is placed between the anvil surface 14 and the template clamp 22 may be ovserved through the template aperture 32. The desired segment of the paper record may thus be conveniently registered with the cutter 18.

The cutter housing assembly 20 is formed of a frame 34, a coiled spring 36, a cap 38 and a cutter element 18 mounted for vertical movement in a bore 40 formed in a cylindrical wall 41 of frame 34. The frame 34 is shown provided with a pair of laterally spaced tongues 42 (only one of which is visible in the drawings). The tongues 42 snap into engagement with respective pivot pins 44 which project laterally into a window 45, located at the rear end 46 of the anvil 12 to enable the entire cutter housing assembly 20 to pivot relative to the anvil surface 14. Such pivoting (illustrated in FIG. 4) permits a clearer view through the template aperture 32 to select the desired area when positioning a record under the template 22. The cutter 18 has an annular shape and a sharp serrated cutting edge 48. The cutter may be made of metal and includes an upper disc 50 having a mounting aperture 52 enabling a screw 54 to attach the cutter to threaded bore 55 of cap 38. The cutter 18 freely moves axially in bore 40 and normally seats against stops such as 56 molded into the wall of bore 40.

A resilient clamping pad 58 is attached to the underside of disc 50 and is located within the annulus formed by the cutter edge 48. The clamping pad 58 may be formed of sponge rubber or any similar porous resilient material, and is sized to protrude below the cutter edge 48 so that the clamping pad 58 may clamp a paper record to the anvil surface 14 before the cutter edge 48 is applied.

The cylindrical segment 41 has an upper annular surface 60 which supports the lower end of coil spring 36.

The upper end of the spring 36 fits around a cylindrical wall 62 of cap 38 and extends into an annular groove 64. When the cap 38, spring 36, and frame 34 are assembled, the spring 36 urges the cap 38 upwardly to seat the cutter 18 in a retracted position against the stops 56.

As shown in FIG. 2 the punch provides both inside and outside clamping of the paper record, by means of the resilient pad 58 and the clamping template 22 respectively. The frame 34 has a pair of rectangular clamping surfaces 63-63 which are poised over the template clamp 22 at a relatively small distance. When the punch 10 is operated and the cap 38 is manually depressed towards the anvil 12, the inside clamp pad 58 first grips the paper record 76 and presses it against the IS anvil surface 14. As the cap pressure is continued, the resilient pad 58 yields and increases the upward pressure against the cutter 18. Then, as the frame 34 pivots downwardly about pins 44, the frame surfaces 63-63 contact the clamping template 22, and the latter presses the outside of the paper record 70 against the anvil. After the paper record has thus been clamped, further cap pressure causes the cutter 18 to descend toward the cutter recess 16 in the anvil l4 and a cutting of the paper record is obtained. FIG. 3 shows the punch elements in their operative positions as cutting of the paper record is completed.

Since the foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative, the scope of protection of the invention has been more broadly stated in the following claims; and these should be liberally interpreted so as to obtain the benefit of all equivalents to which the invention is fairly entitled.

I claim:

1. A punch for removing a desired segment from a record comprising an anvil having a working surface with a recess shaped to receive a cutter in shearing relationship therewith,

a cutter housing assembly mounted over the working surface and mounted for record cutting movement relative to the anvil working surface to enable a record to be inserted therebetween,

said cutter housing assembly being formed of a frame mounted to the anvil for said transverse movement with respect to said anvil working surface, said frame having a surface arranged to effect a clamping action of the record,

a cutter mounted to the frame for movement from a normally retracted position to a cutting position,

a resilient clamping member, said resilient clamping member and frame clamping surface being operatively disposed on opposite sides of the cutter to achieve firm record clamping on both sides of a cutting line during removal of a desired record segment, said cutter being shaped to enclose the desired segment and sever the record along: a cutting line surrounding the resilient clamping member,

means for driving said cutter from its retracted to its cutting position, including resilient means interposed at least indirectly between the frame and the cutter for normally retaining the cutter in its retracted position,

a clamping template removably mounted to the anvil and extending in cantilever fashion adjacent the anvil working surface to receive the record therebetween and located below the frame clamping surface, said clamping template having an opening in registration with the cutter for convenient location of the desired record segment relative to the cutter,

said frame clamping surface and the resilient clamping member being normally spaced from the anvil working surface and operable in response to operation of said cutter driving means to drive said frame clamping surface and resilient clamping member toward said anvil working surface to operatively clamp the record to the anvil working surface prior to driving actuation of the cutter for a clean sharp removal of a desired segment of the records.

2. The punch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cutter housing assembly is pivotly mounted to the anvil for said relative movement thereto for insertion of the paper record.

3. The punch as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cutter drive means further includes a cap, said cap being connected to the cutter, said cutter being captured to the frame for limited retraction thereof, and resilient means being seated between the frame and the cap to normally space the cap and cutter away from the frame and retract the cutter.

4. A punch for removing a desired segment from a paper record comprising an anvil for supporting the paper record in a cutting position,

a cutter housing assembly movably mounted to the anvil to enable the insertion and removal of a paper record to be cut, said cutter housing assembly including a frame and a cutter mounted to the frame for movement towards and away from the anvil, the cutter being shaped and sized commensurate with the desired segment of the record, said cutter having a serrated cutting edge for a clean sharp severance of the desired segment,

means for normally biasing the cutter into a retracted position,

means enclosed by the cutter for clamping the desired segment of the paper record to the anvil,

means for clamping the paper record on the outside of the cutter to the anvil, said desired segment clamping means and the paper record clamping means being located to firmly grip the paper record and enable said serrated cutter to sever the desired segment in a clean and sharp manner substantially without distortion thereof.

5. A punch as claimed in claim 4 and further including record clamping template having an aperture in registration with the cutter, said clamping template being spaced in cantilever fashion over the anvil and below the frame to receive the record between the anvil and the template, said clamping template further being located below the frame clamping surface whereby depression of the template clamps the record during a cutting operation.

6. A paper punch as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for clamping the desired segment further includes a resilient clamping pad mounted to the serrated cutter for movement therewith and protruding below the cutter for clamping of the desired segment prior to a cutting operation.

7. A punch as claimed in claim 6 wherein the anvil is provided with a recess shaped and aligned to receive the cutter.

having an opening in registration with the cutter and the recess to form a paper record clamping surface operative upon advancement of the frame towards the anvil. 

1. A punch for removing a desired segment from a record comprising an anvil having a working surface with a recess shaped to receive a cutter in shearing relationship therewith, a cutter housing assembly mounted over the working surface and mounted for record cutting movement relative to the anvil working surface to enable a record to be inserted therebetween, said cutter housing assembly being formed of a frame mounted to the anvil for said transverse movement with respect to said anvil working surface, said frame having a surface arranged to effect a clamping action of the record, a cutter mounted to the frame for movement from a normally retracted position to a cutting position, a resilient clamping member, said resilient clamping member and frame clamping surface being operatively disposed on opposite sides of the cutter to achieve firm record clamping on both sides of a cutting line during removal of a desired record segment, said cutter being shaped to enclose the desired segment and sever the record along a cutting line surrounding the resilient clamping member, means for driving said cutter from its retracted to its cutting position, including resilient means interposed at least indirectly between the frame and the cutter for normally retaining the cutter in its retracted position, a clamping template removably mounted to the anvil and extending in cantilever fashion adjacent the anvil working surface to receive the record therebetween and located below the frame clamping surface, said clamping template having an opening in registration with the cutter for convenient location of the desired record segment relative to the cutter, said frame clamping surface and the resilient clamping member being normally spaced from the anvil working surface and operable in response to operation of said cutter driving means to drive said frame clamping surface and resilient clamping member toward said anvil working surface to operatively clamp the record to the anvil working surface prior to driving actuation of the cutter for a clean sharp removal of a desired segment of the records.
 2. The punch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cutter housing assembly iS pivotly mounted to the anvil for said relative movement thereto for insertion of the paper record.
 3. The punch as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cutter drive means further includes a cap, said cap being connected to the cutter, said cutter being captured to the frame for limited retraction thereof, and resilient means being seated between the frame and the cap to normally space the cap and cutter away from the frame and retract the cutter.
 4. A punch for removing a desired segment from a paper record comprising an anvil for supporting the paper record in a cutting position, a cutter housing assembly movably mounted to the anvil to enable the insertion and removal of a paper record to be cut, said cutter housing assembly including a frame and a cutter mounted to the frame for movement towards and away from the anvil, the cutter being shaped and sized commensurate with the desired segment of the record, said cutter having a serrated cutting edge for a clean sharp severance of the desired segment, means for normally biasing the cutter into a retracted position, means enclosed by the cutter for clamping the desired segment of the paper record to the anvil, means for clamping the paper record on the outside of the cutter to the anvil, said desired segment clamping means and the paper record clamping means being located to firmly grip the paper record and enable said serrated cutter to sever the desired segment in a clean and sharp manner substantially without distortion thereof.
 5. A punch as claimed in claim 4 and further including record clamping template having an aperture in registration with the cutter, said clamping template being spaced in cantilever fashion over the anvil and below the frame to receive the record between the anvil and the template, said clamping template further being located below the frame clamping surface whereby depression of the template clamps the record during a cutting operation.
 6. A paper punch as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for clamping the desired segment further includes a resilient clamping pad mounted to the serrated cutter for movement therewith and protruding below the cutter for clamping of the desired segment prior to a cutting operation.
 7. A punch as claimed in claim 6 wherein the anvil is provided with a recess shaped and aligned to receive the cutter.
 8. A paper punch as claimed in claim 7 wherein the paper record clamping means further includes a clamping template mounted over the anvil to extend thereover in cantilever fashion adjacent the anvil to receive a paper record therebetween, said clamping template having an opening in registration with the cutter and the recess to form a paper record clamping surface operative upon advancement of the frame towards the anvil. 